Though Sri Lanka was faced with a recent crisis in electricity supply, it became more of a challenge to the authorities in finding ways of overcoming such situations (now and in the future), Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ajith Perera has said.  Speaking at the recent launch of the www.greenenergychampion.lk website in Colombo, [...]

The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Energy crisis will provide lessons for the future, says deputy minister

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Though Sri Lanka was faced with a recent crisis in electricity supply, it became more of a challenge to the authorities in finding ways of overcoming such situations (now and in the future), Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ajith Perera has said.  Speaking at the recent launch of the www.greenenergychampion.lk website in Colombo, the deputy minister said the government is taking steps to overcome such shortcomings in production, distribution, conservation of electricity and improving existing infrastructure. He said one of the daunting challenges faced by the government was to educate people on conservation methods and also on the use of coal power, thermal power and hydro electricity generation without discarding them totally, in addition to solar power in the country.

The website comes under the Green Energy Champion Sri Lanka Energy Initiative group formed to improve energy efficiency and encourage the use of renewable energy in Sri Lanka. German’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy of Sri Lanka, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority and the Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association (SLEMA) are together involved in the initiative which includes a competition to select a “Green Energy Champion”, who would get Euros 30,000 on winning the event.  Mr. Perera said the cabinet of ministers has decided to set up a Presidential Task Force to conduct a feasibility study on sustainable energy programmes in future and to educate youth on conservation of energy in the country.

The Task Force is expected to draw up guidelines on alternate renewable energy patterns that are most suited to the country.  “We are on the verge of providing 100 per cent electricity to the country and have drawn plans to provide high quality power to people. Our attention has also been focused on creating an awareness among the public on conserving electricity,” he said. German Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Jurgen Morhard said the problem of conserving energy was not confined to Sri Lanka alone but affects the whole world and its economies. “It is the ever changing climate conditions that countries have to face in the future. Climate is getting warmer and warmer with little rain. Everybody takes energy for granted and nobody wants to see the underlying factors.”  He said, “We cannot tell you what energy was suited for the country but a mix of energy is what is required and the government has to take a decision on this matter”.

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